Hispanic Heritage Month is Friday, Sept. 15-Sunday, Oct. 15, spotlighting the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Sept. 15 is the date when five Latin American countries declared independence from Spain in 1821 — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16, while Chile’s is Sept. 18.

Today, we're diving into local ways to celebrate:

Folklore 2023 | Thursday, Sept. 21 | 5-8 p.m. | 1828 Walnut St., KCMO | Free | Enjoy food, drinks, and music with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fresco Marketing, and Wells Fargo. Bonus: Find out details on the The Folklore grant program which gives 10 small businesses $10,000 grants.